Officials in the Himalayan state of Bhutan say a draft constitution paving the way for a constitutional monarchy is expected by the end of the year.

The state-owned newspaper Kuensel said a committee appointed by King Jigme Singye Wangchuk last year to write a constitution, had completed talks on different forms of democratic governments.

The newspaper quoted the Chief Justice of Bhutan's Supreme Court (Lyonpo Sonam Tobgye) as saying that the committee discussed the merits of multiparty politics.

Political parties are currently banned in Bhutan.

The king rules taking advice from a consultative council, which includes locally elected members.

(From the Newsroom of BBC World Service)